18-wheel truck crashes into residence

Published: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 11:56 AM.

Power was fully restored to the 1,820 electric customers affected by the accident as of 12:45 p.m. today, according to Progress Energy Carolinas spokesman Jeff Brooks.

UPDATED 1:46 P.M.

Richard Davis of Gastonia, the driver of the 18-wheeler that crashed into the home of Mary Lou and Curt King this morning, has been treated and released from Lenoir Memorial Hospital, according to spokeswoman Barbara LaRoque.

The crash took place shortly after 10 a.m. today. N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper R.B. Kirk said Davis, 46, told him after the accident he had been driving west on U.S. 70 East when he started feeling unwell.

Davis was looking for somewhere to pull over, but blacked out and traveled more than 450 feet before crossing the highway median and the eastbound lanes, took out a power pole and crashed into the rear of the Kings' single-wide trailer, just east of the intersection of U.S. 70 East and Lynley Place Drive.

The Kings, who own Mary Lou's Grill and the neighboring gas station were not at home at the time of the accident.

Power was fully restored to the 1,820 electric customers affected by the accident as of 12:45 p.m. today, according to Progress Energy Carolinas spokesman Jeff Brooks.

UPDATED 1:46 P.M.

Richard Davis of Gastonia, the driver of the 18-wheeler that crashed into the home of Mary Lou and Curt King this morning, has been treated and released from Lenoir Memorial Hospital, according to spokeswoman Barbara LaRoque.

The crash took place shortly after 10 a.m. today. N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper R.B. Kirk said Davis, 46, told him after the accident he had been driving west on U.S. 70 East when he started feeling unwell.

Davis was looking for somewhere to pull over, but blacked out and traveled more than 450 feet before crossing the highway median and the eastbound lanes, took out a power pole and crashed into the rear of the Kings' single-wide trailer, just east of the intersection of U.S. 70 East and Lynley Place Drive.

The Kings, who own Mary Lou's Grill and the neighboring gas station were not at home at the time of the accident.

NCHP Sgt. G.S. Hemby said about 1,800 Progress Energy customers and about 75 Suddenlink cable and Internet customers were affected by the power outage.

The truck's cab went all the way through the trailer, and sat in the home while power crews secured the downed lines and removed the smashed power pole — the bottom half of the pole had been sheared away by the truck and the top half remained standing on the ground.

Mary Lou's Grill remained open to customers throughout the morning, even though it did not have electricity. The power came back on in the restaurant around 12:30 p.m.

From Free Press reporter David Anderson's Facebook/Twitter pages:

This 18-wheeler has crashed through a single-wide trailer on US 70 East past the Baron and the Beef, taking out at least one power pole in the process. Police have closed one lane and are directing traffic in the area.

The homeowners are Curt and Mary Lou King, owners of Mary Lou's Grill -- grill does not have power but is still open.